PERSONA 3 DEVIL'S HERALD

...09/08/2009 Sunday; Midday...

Two days had passed since the last full moon operation.

The city continued its routine, oblivious to the fact that during the twenty-fifth hour of the day, a group of Gekkoukan High School students secretly fought against the shadows.

Mitsuru walked through the bustling downtown crowd, carrying her bag under her arm.

She wore a sleeveless white high-neck shirt and black pants, her long crimson hair tied back in a ponytail to combat the stifling summer heat.

As she walked, her eyes scanned the medical reports detailing the injuries Yukari and Minato had sustained during the last operation.

She flipped through the pages until she reached Yukari's file.

The doctor had recommended that, due to extreme exhaustion, Yukari should rest for an entire week, avoiding any physical exertion.

"I should have done better to protect everyone. Not to mention he almost died..." Mitsuru thought, sighing with concern.

Suddenly, an image of Hiro's body, collapsed on the ground after being attacked by the shadow arcana, flashed in her mind like lightning.

She shook her head, forcing the memory away. With a swift motion, she closed the report and tucked it back into her bag.

"Calm down. Everyone's safe now. This isn't the time for self-recrimination," she told herself, trying to maintain her composure as she continued walking.

Reaching the crosswalk, Mitsuru stopped, watching the cars speeding by while waiting for the signal to change.

Her thoughts were still caught up in recent memories when a sleek, black luxury car with tinted windows pulled up beside her.

The emblem of a red "K" stood out in the center of each wheel—an unmistakable mark.

The driver's door opened, and a tall man in a black suit and sunglasses stepped out.

He made a brief bow to Mitsuru, his hand over his chest in a gesture of respect.

She recognized him immediately. It was Giyu, one of her father's bodyguards.

"Mitsuru-sama, it is a pleasure to see you again," he said, as formal as ever.

Mitsuru turned to him, keeping her tone serious. "Giyu-kun, what are you doing here?"

Giyu straightened, gesturing toward the car with an elegant motion. "There is no need for concern, Mitsuru-sama. However, Kirijo-san wishes to see you."

Mitsuru's heart skipped a beat, a mixture of joy and apprehension.

Her father rarely summoned her for personal conversations unless something important was at stake.

"My father wants to see me..." she murmured, surprised.

Giyu walked to the car's rear door and opened it, his posture and movements as impeccable as always. "Yes, he wishes to meet with you in person."

Mitsuru stepped into the car, feeling the refreshing blast of air conditioning contrast with the outside heat.

Sitting beside her was Takeharu Kirijo, her father, on the phone.

He was a middle-aged man with black hair and gray eyes, wearing an eyepatch over his right eye.

His gray suit and red tie exuded the gravity of someone accustomed to bearing significant responsibilities.

The cold look he wore could intimidate anyone, but Mitsuru was already used to her father's imposing presence.

Takeharu was mid-conversation when Mitsuru entered the car, his expression as rigid as ever.

Noticing his daughter's presence, he ended the call quickly, putting his phone away.

He then picked up a red folder from the seat in front of him, its laboratory emblem catching Mitsuru's attention.

She sat beside him, attempting to mask her unease. "Hello, Father. I didn't expect to see you so soon," she said, her tone respectful yet calm.

Takeharu turned his serious gaze to Mitsuru, his expression as stern as ever but with a trace of concealed concern.

"I received your report," he began, flipping through the folder in his hands. "Congratulations on defeating two more Shadow Arcana. How are you holding up?"

Mitsuru let out a soft sigh, undoing her ponytail to let her hair fall gently over her shoulders.

"I'm fine," she replied, trying to sound more at ease than she truly felt. "The attacks didn't injure me much. The new suit absorbed most of the impact."

Takeharu showed no emotion in his expression, but deep down, he felt immense relief hearing her response.

"Good," he said, maintaining his cold tone as he turned his attention back to the documents in the folder. "It's good to hear that."

As the car moved through the city's streets, Mitsuru gazed out the window, watching the buildings go by.

Yet, her mind was elsewhere, stuck on the moment when she and Hiro had almost kissed.

The physical and emotional closeness they had shared worried her, especially when it came to protecting him, along with her constant concern for the group's safety.

The guilt of nearly losing one of her team members still ate away at her.

She clasped her hands tightly, trying to contain the anxiety building inside her.

Takeharu, always observant, noticed his daughter's discomfort.

"Something is troubling you, Mitsuru," he said, lowering the folder and keeping his cold gaze fixed on her, though with a hint of concern. "What happened?"

Mitsuru let out a deep sigh, releasing some of the tension within her.

She ran her fingers through her hair, hesitating before answering.

"It's about S.E.E.S... I may have been the first to awaken a Persona, and I was chosen to lead the group, but..." Her voice faltered, dropping to a softer tone, "I'm starting to question if I'm..."

Takeharu listened intently, his eyes fixed on Mitsuru as she struggled with her insecurities.

"You're questioning whether you're doing the right thing," he said, more a statement than a question.

Mitsuru nodded, frustration evident on her face. "Yes. We nearly lost one of our own... And someone else overused their Persona, damaging their lungs. I can't stop blaming myself."

She rubbed her eyes, a rare gesture of vulnerability. "Especially the one who almost died... I could've stopped him before he charged at the Justice Arcana Shadow."

In an uncommon display of affection, Takeharu reached out and gently placed his hand on Mitsuru's head.

She was taken aback, suddenly feeling childlike in front of her father, but the gesture calmed her.

For a moment, she thought that perhaps she really hadn't done anything wrong.

"Don't blame yourself, Mitsuru," Takeharu said, withdrawing his hand and returning to his serious tone, though a faint tenderness was noticeable. "Remember what I've told you: you're not responsible for what's happening. If there's blame to assign, it's mine... or rather, it belongs to the legacy that cursed your generation."

Mitsuru looked at her father, surprised by his words. "Father..."

"I made a vow to destroy the danger I brought into your life," Takeharu continued, gazing out the window as the buildings passed by, his voice resolute.

"I won't rest until that cursed tower is reduced to rubble, even if it costs me my life."

Mitsuru recalled that promise. It was the reason she fought as a Persona-user.

She wanted to protect her father, to ensure he would live to see the future they both dreamed of.

"What you're doing as a leader is your best, Mitsuru. But no one is perfect, and making mistakes is human—even if it means risking lives," Takeharu concluded, meeting his daughter's eyes directly.

She averted her gaze, understanding the weight of her responsibility but also feeling the relief her father's words brought. "You're right... I did what I could."

Takeharu noted his daughter's emotional recovery and sighed, resigned but satisfied that he had helped her regain her composure.

He picked up his phone again, read a message, then turned it off before returning his attention to the folder in his hands.

"I taught you well, Mitsuru. You know you can't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders," he said, this time with a calmer tone.

Mitsuru nodded, finally calming her mind. "I know. Sorry for worrying about this."

Takeharu gave a rare, subtle smile. "You don't need to apologize. You're the leader of S.E.E.S. Taking care of the members is an essential part of your role."

A faint smile appeared on Mitsuru's lips, and she felt more at ease. "You're right. By the way, what's in that folder?"

Takeharu's expression grew serious again as he opened the folder. "Ikutsuki had one of the S.E.E.S members undergo a blood test. If I'm not mistaken, it was the new recruit. What was his name again?"

"If it's the new recruit, then it's Hiro Mikoshi," Mitsuru said, intrigued. "But what about him?"

Takeharu seemed surprised upon hearing the name, especially the surname. "Mikoshi..."

Noticing her father's puzzled expression, Mitsuru grew concerned. "Father, are you alright?"

Takeharu had a sudden flash of memory—a man holding a baby, shouting at Eiichiro Takeba and himself.

The memory unsettled him, but he quickly pushed it aside. "Yes, I'm fine. I just had a déjà vu."

He returned his focus to the folder, studying the results. "Hiro's tests revealed that his Persona has a certain 'flaw,' if we can call it that."

Mitsuru's eyes widened with alarm. "Flaw? What do you mean?"

Takeharu handed her the folder. "It's not something to worry about, as long as you make the necessary decisions. But it was detected that the Theurgy cartridge has a forty percent chance of destabilizing his Persona."

Mitsuru's eyes widened as she read the charts in the folder.

The difference in energy levels between a normal summoning and one using Theurgy was staggering, posing a significant risk to Hiro's life.

She clutched the folder tightly, a wave of concern and slight irritation washing over her.

Images of Hiro's frenzy as he brutally attacked the Chariot Arcana flooded her mind, leaving her even more unsettled.

"No... I won't let that happen again," she murmured.

She handed the folder back to her father, deep in thought about what to do. Removing the Theurgy cartridge could protect Hiro, but it would also mean a significant loss of power for the group.

After several minutes, the car stopped in front of the Iwatodai Dormitory to drop Mitsuru off.

Takeharu looked at Mitsuru, his expression cold, but his eyes carried something deeper—a rare hint of concern.

"You know what to do," he said firmly. "Make the decision you think is best, Mitsuru. And remember, the Shadows are getting stronger."

Mitsuru nodded silently, her hand resting on the car door handle.

"I will," she replied, determination evident in her voice. "I know what I have to do. And Father..."

Takeharu, who had already taken his phone out of his suit pocket, looked at her. "Yes?"

Mitsuru met her father's gaze, a soft smile appearing on her lips. "I... love you. Take care out there."

She opened the car door and stepped out, her steps firm as she walked toward the dormitory.

For a moment, Takeharu was taken aback by his daughter's words.

A spark of worry ignited in his heart—an emotion he had suppressed for so long.

He pressed the button to lower the car window and called out, "Mitsuru!"

She stopped in front of the dormitory door and turned, surprised to see her father stepping out of the car.

He walked toward her quickly, his rigid posture softening unexpectedly.

Without another word, Takeharu pulled her into a gentle hug.

Mitsuru was startled, her eyes widening briefly before she allowed herself to relax into the warmth of the gesture.

Her father had never been the type to show physical affection, and feeling this embrace now, after so many years, awakened a long-dormant warmth in her chest.

"Mitsuru," Takeharu's voice was softer, carrying the concern of a father who rarely let his emotions show. "Be careful when you go to Tartarus. Understand?"

She returned the hug, finding rare comfort in his words. "Don't worry, I'll be careful."

Takeharu stepped back, his gaze serious but softened by the brief smile he managed to give.

He returned to the car, closing the door behind him.

Mitsuru stood there, watching the car drive away, a new determination growing in her heart.

She looked up at the sky, watching the clouds drift slowly as if time were granting her a brief moment of peace.

"I will destroy the Dark Hour," she murmured to herself, a confident smile forming on her lips. "Don't worry, Father."